How do I plan a Morocco trip from Santiago, Chile?

I plan a lot of trips for Chilean travellers, and the honest first thing I tell them is that Morocco is far — but very reachable. From Santiago there's no nonstop, so you have two clean options. The smoothest is to fly Santiago–São Paulo (about 4 hours), then pick up Royal Air Maroc's nonstop from São Paulo to Casablanca, which is the only direct service between South America and Morocco at roughly 9 hours over the Atlantic. The alternative is the European route: Santiago to Madrid (around 13 hours), then a 90-minute hop down to Marrakech or Casablanca. Either way you're looking at 22 to 28 hours door to door once you count connections, so build in a buffer.

Because of that distance, I never recommend a short trip. Ten to fourteen days on the ground is the sweet spot, and I'd push back gently on anyone trying to squeeze Morocco into five. A classic loop that works beautifully: land in Casablanca, train up to Fes for the medieval medina, cross the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley to the Sahara for a night under the stars at Merzouga or Erg Chigaga, then come over the High Atlas via the Dades and Ait Ben Haddou into Marrakech. Fly home out of Marrakech or loop back to Casablanca.

On paperwork — and this catches Chilean travellers out — Moroccan entry rules for Chilean passport holders require a visa, so you cannot assume visa-free entry the way EU citizens do. Start that process well ahead, gather hotel confirmations and your return ticket, and keep digital copies. The Chilean peso to Moroccan dirham exchange is straightforward; bring a card with no foreign fees and withdraw dirhams once you land rather than buying them in Santiago.

My practical advice: arrive, sleep, and don't schedule anything demanding for your first 24 hours after that much flying. The time difference (Morocco is four to five hours ahead of Santiago depending on the season) hits harder going east. Pre-book your first two nights and your desert experience, and leave the cities more open. If you're travelling in 2030, note that Morocco co-hosts the World Cup — book a year out if your dates overlap.